Bangladesh’s ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has warned that the future of Dhaka’s relations with India will largely depend on the signing of a new Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, escalating pressure on New Delhi ahead of the expiration of the landmark 1996 accord later this year.
Speaking at a discussion marking Historic Farakka Day in Dhaka on Saturday, BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called for immediate bilateral negotiations to secure a new agreement that reflects what he described as Bangladesh’s “expectations and needs.”
“We want to send a clear message to the Indian government that a new treaty must be implemented immediately through discussions according to the expectations and needs of Bangladesh’s people,” Fakhrul said at the event held at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh in Dhaka.
He added that the opportunity to maintain strong ties between the two neighboring countries “will depend on the signing of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty or the Farakka Agreement.”
The remarks come at a sensitive moment in India-Bangladesh relations as the 30-year treaty signed in December 1996 approaches its scheduled expiration in December 2026. The agreement, reached between then Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, governs dry-season water sharing at the Farakka Barrage in India’s West Bengal state.
The Ganges River, known inside Bangladesh as the Padma, is considered vital to the country’s agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, river navigation and drinking water systems. Bangladesh has long argued that upstream diversion of water through India’s Farakka Barrage has contributed to declining river flows, rising salinity, environmental degradation and economic hardship in southwestern regions of the country.
Fakhrul said nearly one-third of Bangladesh’s population depends directly or indirectly on the Ganges river system for livelihoods and ecological sustainability. He also warned that uncertainty over renewal of the treaty was creating anxiety over future water availability.
While criticizing the previous Awami League government over water diplomacy with India, Fakhrul argued that the existing agreement should remain effective until a replacement treaty is finalized. He further suggested that future agreements should not be restricted to fixed time limits.
“This treaty must remain effective indefinitely until any future agreement replaces it,” he said.
Padma Barrage Project Adds New Dimension
The BNP leader’s comments came just days after Bangladesh approved a massive Padma Barrage project intended to address chronic water shortages and reduce the downstream effects of India’s Farakka Barrage.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved the Tk 34,497 crore project earlier this week. The first phase is expected to run from 2026 to 2033.
According to government documents, the proposed barrage will span the Padma River between Rajbari and Pabna districts and is designed to restore river flow, reduce salinity intrusion, improve irrigation capacity and strengthen ecological sustainability across large sections of Bangladesh.
Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee defended the initiative, saying the project was entirely tied to Bangladesh’s national interests.
“The proposed Padma Barrage is a matter of Bangladesh’s own interest and there is no need for any discussion with India on the issue,” Anee told reporters after the ECNEC meeting in Dhaka. “Discussions are necessary regarding the Ganges, and those are ongoing.”
Government officials say the project could benefit around 70 million people across at least 19 districts and help revive several drying river systems connected to the Padma basin.
Historical Dispute Over Farakka
The Farakka issue has remained one of the most contentious aspects of India-Bangladesh relations for decades.
India constructed the Farakka Barrage in the 1970s primarily to divert water into the Hooghly River to maintain navigability for Kolkata Port. Bangladesh, as the lower riparian state, has repeatedly alleged that excessive upstream diversion reduced water flow into its territory during dry seasons.
Temporary water-sharing arrangements were signed several times before the comprehensive 1996 treaty established a long-term framework. Despite the agreement, disputes have periodically resurfaced over flow measurements and dry-season allocations.
Water experts say climate change, erratic rainfall and growing regional demand for freshwater are likely to complicate future negotiations.
Prominent water expert Ainun Nishat, who played a role in drafting the original treaty, cautiously welcomed the Padma Barrage initiative while stressing the importance of continued bilateral cooperation.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Nishat said the effectiveness of the project would depend heavily on continuation of the Ganges water-sharing arrangement between the two countries.
Strategic and Political Implications
The renewed emphasis on water diplomacy reflects the broader political transformation underway in Bangladesh following the 2026 election that brought the BNP-led administration of Tarique Rahman to power after the army- and Islamist-backed interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
Analysts say the BNP government is attempting to frame water security as both a national sovereignty issue and a core component of regional diplomacy with India.
The timing is also significant because several other unresolved bilateral river-sharing disputes — including the Teesta River agreement — remain stalled despite years of negotiations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
India has not yet officially responded to Fakhrul’s latest remarks.
